Header AD

Navy readies BRP Tarlac for first port call to Russia

PN readies BRP Tarlac for first port call to Russia
By Priam Nepomuceno

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is currently preparing BRP Tarlac (LD-601), one of the two strategic sealift vessels in its fleet, for its first ever port visit to Vladivostok, Russia.

The ship is set to leave on Sept. 17, PN spokesperson Commodore Jonathan Zata told the Philippine News Agency Thursday.

Preparations for the ship's port visit to Russia include stocking of provisions like fuel, oil, lubricants and sundries needed for the voyage.

BRP Tarlac will sail alone and Zata said the voyage from the Philippines to Vladivostok, Russia will take "eight to 10 days."

He added that BRP Tarlac's port visit will last five days.

The scheduled PN port call is in reciprocation of the visit of Russian warships in Manila last June and those of last year, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said.

The Tarlac-class SSVs are the largest PN ships in service as of this posting.

These vessels have an overall length of 120 meters, breadth of 21 meters, and draft of five meters and can carry a payload of 2,800 tons.

Both have a cruising speed of 13 knots and maximum speed of 16 knots and a minimum operating range of 7,500 nautical miles.

The SSVs can carry 500 troops, two rigid-hull inflatable boats, two landing craft units and three helicopters. (PNA)